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Review: Crazy Rich Asians

We're comfortable...

Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is an economics professor in NYC who goes to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding) for this best friend's wedding. She's meeting Nick's family for the first time, and she knows next to nothing about them. Especially about them being crazy rich.

I had never heard of the best selling novel this is based off of prior to the trailer coming out. So I can't compare the two. I'm also not usually a fan of romantic comedies. I'm struggling to remember the last big studio rom com I even saw in theaters, but this had a lot of hype surrounding it. Not to mention the last time a film with an exclusively Asian cast opened in a wide release in the United States was in 1993. Let that ridiculous stat wash over you for a minute.

Pro tip: Do not go to this movie hungry. Because not only is the production of this movie absolutely gorgeous, it doesn't stop at outfits and sets. It goes straight to the food. I was starving when I left this. This is also the first romantic comedy that I've actually cried in. Yes, that could be attributed into me just growing into a bigger wuss as I get older but I had tears flowing for a solid 10 minutes in this film, both happy and sad.

Constance Wu is perfectly cast and it really makes me hate that I haven't seen a lot of her other work. I loved her as Rachel. While this film isn't immune to some rom com cliches, Rachel the character manages to avoid the most egregious ones that the leading lady would normally suffer. Henry Golding in his debut role is also great as Nick. You can tell how much he loves Rachel and there's never a hint of anything else there. For the supporting cast, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, and Nico Santos are the standouts.

Like I mentioned earlier, the production is spectacular. This is the only film that comes close to rivaling Black Panther this year in the costume department. It also features quite possibly the most beautiful wedding I've ever seen. I'm glad director Jon M. Chu insisted this film be for the big screen and didn't go the Netflix route. There are a few misses. Ken Leong, even though he has a very small part was a tad over the top and annoying and all the catty characters were paper thin, they're not the focal point of this film so it doesn't suffer.

I want to see this movie because I heard good things about it plus, it has Michelle Yeoh whom I love. I watch The Late Show with Trevor Noah(I tape it as it is on past my bed time) and he has some comedians who talk/rant on his show...I wonder if that Ken Leong is the one from the show because he can be over the top on the show also although he can be funny.

I liked it, but not quite as much as everyone else. It was just way too predictable. That said, I agree on the production design and the acting. Well, I will say audibly groaned about the wedding. Way too over the top ridiculous for me. Despite how it sounds, though like I said, I did like it.

LAMB #753

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